October 5, 2025 - Acts 12-14

Thrown into prison by Herod, miraculously freed by God, and returned to the disciples, Peter “described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison” (12:17).  Peter and the disciples saw great opposition to the preaching of the gospel.  And, then, there is this sort of a summary statement:  “But the word of God increased and multiplied” (12:24).  The “But” seems to be there as a word of contrast, that is, although Herod and others fought against God and his purposes, nevertheless, God’s plans moved ahead.  How did the Psalmist put it?  “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed . . . He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision” (Psalm 1:2,4).

And so, the Lord sent his Holy Spirit to Antioch, and he said to the church there:  “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (13:2).  “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus,” and so on.  Let the enemies of the gospel oppose it; still, God goes with his people and the gospel moves forward! 

A mighty fortress is our God,

a bulwark never failing;

our helper he, amid the flood

of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe

does seek to work us woe;

his craft and power are great,

and armed with cruel hate,

on earth is not his equal.   –Martin Luther (1529)